DELAV;ARE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 
Beniamin  Ferris 


imf' 


/•ATERS    OF    THE   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY  OF  DELAWARE. 
XXXVII. 


BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 


Proceedings  of  the  meeting  of  ttie  Historical  Society  of  Deia= 
ware,  lield  on  tlie  evening  of  May  19,  1902,  to  commemo= 
rate  ttie  eminent  services  rendered  to  ttie  State  by  Benjamin 
Ferris  the  auttior  of  "Early  Settlements  on  the  Delaware." 


THE   HISTORICAL   vSOCIETY  OF   DELAWARE, 

WILMINGTON. 
•         1903- 


Benjamin  Ferris, 

FROM    A    DAGUERREOTYPE    IN    7hE    POSSESSION    OF    THE    FAMILY. 


THE  LIBRATTY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SANTA  BARBARA 


PAPERS    OF    THE  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY  OF  DELAWARE. 
XXXVII. 


BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 


Proceedings  of  the  meeting  of  tlie  Historical  Society  of  Dela- 
ware, tteld  on  tlie  evening  of  May  19,  1902,  to  commemo- 
rate the  eminent  services  rendered  to  the  State  by  Benjamin 
Ferris  the  author  of  "Early  Settlements  on  the  Delaware." 


THE   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY  OF  DELAWARE, 

WILMINGTON. 
1903. 


Kf^ 


The  John  M.  Rogers  Press,  Wilmington,  Del. 


EXPLANATION. 


The  committee  on  Literary  Exercises  in  conjunction 
with  the  librarian  conceived  the  idea  of  setting  part  an 
evening  to  be  devoted  to  papers  and  reminiscences  touching 
the  life,  work  and  character  of  Benjamin  Ferris,  the  author 
of  the  historical  publication  known  as  "The  Karly  Settle- 
ments on  the  Delaware."  This  publication  was  issued  in 
1845  and  represented  years  of  patient  and  painstaking  work 
on  the  part  of  the  author,  and  while  the  work  itself  has 
been  everywhere  recognized  as  one  of  distinguished  merit, 
but  little  has  been  hitherto  presented  in  permanent  shape 
that  tended  to  impress  upon  the  public  the  worth  and  stable 
character  of  the  man  through  whose  research  and  effort  so 
much  of  local  historical  value  has  been  preserved,  that  would 
otherwise  have  been  lost. — The  meeting  proved  an  interesting 
one  and  was  attended  by  many  of  the  older  citizens 
who  had  know  Benjamin  Ferris  in  his  lifetime.  The  con- 
tents of  the  pages  following,  containing  as  they  do  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  meeting,  constitute,  in  some  measure,  a  just 
meed  of  praise  to  the  worthy  author  and  historian  whom  all 
felt  a  delight  in  honoring. 

The    lylBRARIAN. 


MEMOIR  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 


Prepared  by  Lewis  P.  Bush,  M.  D.,  an  old  and  intimate  friend  of 
the  subject  of  the  sketch,  and  read  by  Dr.  Bush  before  a  meeting  of 
the  Historical  Society  held  on  the  evening  of  March  lo,  1870.  Re-read 
by  Henry  C.  Conrad,  Librarian  of  the  Society  at  the  commemorative 
exercises. 

Benjamin  Ferris,  the  subject  of  the  following  notice 
died  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  November  9th,  A.  D.  1867. 

He  was  a  descendent  from  an  English  Family,  one  of 
whose  members,  Samuel  Ferris,  came  from  Reading,  Eng- 
land, about  40  miles  N.  E.  of  London,  in  the  year  1682, 
and  settled  at  Groton,  near  Boston,  Mass.,  but  shortl)^  after- 
ward removed  to  Charlestown,  Mass.,  and  thence  to  New 
Milford,  Conn.  From  this  place  his  Grandson,  John  Ferris 
removed  and  settled  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  in  the  year  1748; 
thus  being  among  the  first  settlers  in  this  city. 

Ziba  Ferris,  the  son  of  John  Ferris,  was  born  in  New 
Milford,  A.  D.  1743,  and  died  in  Wilmington,  A.  D.  1794. 
He  was  the  father  of  Benjamin  Ferris,  of  whom  is  this 
paper. — It  seemed  proper  that  some  notice,  other  than  the 
ordinary  Resolutions  of  respect  which  have  been  passed  by 
this  Society,  should  be  taken  of  the  subject  of  this  paper, 
who  was  a  respected  member  of  the  Society,  and  also  the 
first  citizen  of  our  State,  who  ever  attempted  to  gather  up 
any  portion  of  its  annals,  and  hence  this  sketch. 

Of  his  ancestors,  Benjamin  Ferris  remarks  as  follows — 
"They  are  spoken  of  in  the  early  family  records,  as  being 


6     LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

"of  the  Puritan  sort  of  people,  and  for  several  generations 
continued  to  profess  the  Presbyterian  form  of  faith." 

With  many  others  of  a  like  faith,  this  family,  doubtless 
impressed  by  the  uncertainty  of  repose  in  England,  in  view 
of  the  great  troubles  and  sufferings  in  regard  to  religion, 
which  had  extended  through  more  than  a  century,  hailed 
the  opening  of  a  new  country,  as  light  from  Heaven,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  hope  of  finding  the  peace  here, 
which  was  denied  them  in  their  own  land.  They  had  lived 
near  the  center  of  those  agitations  which  prevailed  during 
the  reigns  of  Marj'  and  Elizabeth,  of  James  and  Charles  ist 
and  2nd;  and  up  to  the  time  of  their  leaving  England  the 
peace  of  the  country  seemed  as  unstable  as  the  waves  of  the 
ocean.  I  here  quote,  as  an  interesting  and  instructive  frag- 
ment, the  following  remarks  of  Benjamin  Ferris,  recorded 
by  him  in  a  book  of  family  history,  as  a  tribute  to  the 
character  of  his  ancestors — "One  of  the  best  inducements," 
says  he  "to  stimulate  survivors  to  preserve  a  record  of  the 
character  of  those  who  have  gone  before  them,  is  the  hope 
that  the  example  of  worthy  ancestors  may  excite  their 
descendants  to  follow  in  their  footsteps.  On  looking  over 
the  annals  of  those,  who  have  passed  through  the  scene  of 
probation  before  me,  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  sides 
of  my  family,  I  find  an  ancestry,  pure  and  spotless  as 
regards  any  stain  on  their  moral  character.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  they  all  had  the  same  temptations,  and  the  same  trials 
that  await  us,  and  will  always  attend  those  who  succeed  us; 
but  standing  on  the  watch  tower,  and  having  timely  notice 
of  the  approach  of  their  enemies,  they  were  enabled  to  con- 
quer; or  being  suddenly  attacked,  were,  thro'  Divine  Mercy, 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.     7 

aided  in  the  conflict,  and  came  out  victorious;  leaving  us  an 
example  that  we  might  follow  their  steps. ' ' 

Benjamin  Ferris  was  born  in  Wilmington,  August  7th, 
1780.  His  early  life  was  spent  in  Philadelphia  where  he 
obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  watchmaking  business;  and 
whence  he  returned  to  Wilmington  in  the  year  181 3.  During 
nearly  the  whole  period  between  that  and  his  death,  he 
resided  in  this  city.  His  occupation  here  was  that  of  a  con- 
veyancer, and  he  was  also  appointed  city  surveyor  about  the 
year  1820,  which  oflSce  he  discharged  with  so  much  public 
satisfaction,  that  it  was  with  difiiculty  that  he  could  dis- 
engage himself  from  it.  Fond  of  knowledge,  he  read 
extensively  upon  religious  and  historical  subjects,  especially 
the  history  of  our  own  country;  and  having  an  excellent 
memory,  he  laid  up  extensive  stores  of  facts  relative  to 
general  and  personal  subjects,  which,  with  his  fondness  for 
social  intercourse,  rendered  his  companionship  most  inter- 
esting and  instructive  to  his  friends. 

Among  other  subjects  to  which  his  attention  was  natu- 
rally directed,  as  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
especially  interested  in  the  life,  character  and  administration 
of  William  Penn,  was  that  of  the  condition  and  welfare  of 
the  aborigines  of  our  Country;  and  hence  in  November, 
1839,  we  find  his  name  on  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
yearly  meetings  of  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore, 
to  investigate  and  lay  before  Congress  and  the  President  of 
the  United  States  the  history  and  wrongs  of  the  Seneca 
Indians. 

These  Indians  who  occupied  a  Reservation  of  land 
chiefly  in  the  southern  part  of  New  York,  had  become  sur- 
rounded  by   an   advancing   civilization.       An   agricultural 


8     LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

community  occupied  all  the  land  adjacent,  and  as  the 
property  of  the  Indians  containing  over  100,000  acres,  was 
growing  in  value,  it  became  an  object  of  cupidity  to  the 
Ogden  lyand  Company,  who  resolved  to  secure  it,  (whether 
by  right  or  by  wrong).  This  Company  had  by  a  grant  from 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  the  original  proprietor  of  that 
part  of  New  York,  obtained  the  pre-emption  right  to  the 
land  occupied  by  the  Senecas,  which  implied  the  right  of 
the  first  opportunity  of  purchase,  whenever  the  Indians 
should  remove;  and  at  the  time  of  which  we  now  speak,  were 
endeavouring  by  very  unjust  means  to  dispossess  the  Indians. 
It  became  evident  to  the  Society  of  Friends  that  this  Com- 
pany was  likely  to  effect  their  object,  which  would  necessi- 
tate the  removal  of  the  Senecas  to  some  remote  part  of  the 
Country;  and  to  prevent  such  removal  against  the  wishes  of 
the  Indians,  was  the  object  of  the  appointment  of  this  Com- 
mittee. To  accomplish  their  unrighteous  purpose  the 
Company  had  by  bribes  induced  a  number  of  the  Chiefs  of 
the  Nation  to  sign  a  treaty  assenting  to  their  removal;  but 
the  Committee  had  fully  ascertained  and  proved  the  iniquity 
of  the  procedure,  and  had  thus  represented  it  to  the  Presi- 
dent and  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

The  Treaty  was  referred  by  the  Senate  to  a  committee 
of  that  body,  who  were  fully  satisfied  of  its  fraudulent  char- 
acter, and  having  remodeled  it,  reported  it  to  the  Senate,  by 
whom  it  was  sent  to  the  Indians  for  their  acceptance.  This 
assent  could  not  be  obtained,  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  stated  in 
his  message  the  next  year,  1840 — but  taking  advantage  of 
a  thin  house,  the  friends  of  the  I^and  Co.  succeeded  in  push- 
ing it  through  the  Senate  by  a  bare  majority,  after  which, 
bearing  the  signature  of  the  President,  it  was  returned  to 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.     9 

the  Indians,  carrying  with  it  the  sentence  of  banishment 
from  the  homes  and  graves  of  their  fathers. 

In  these  efforts  which  continued  through  two  years. 
Benjamin  Ferris  took  a  prominent  part,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber not  only  of  the  original  committee,  but  also  of  all  the 
sub-committees.  After  this  disappointment  a  correspond- 
ence and  conference  was  had  with  Joel  R.  Poinsett  and  John 
C.  Spencer,  Secretary  of  War,  by  Philip  E.  Thomas  of  Bal- 
timore, which  resulted  in  the  restoration  to  the  Indians  of 
about  one-half,  or  53,000  acres  of  their  land  ;  but  not  until 
some  200  of  the  Indians  had  been  induced  by  deception  to 
remove  beyond  the  Mississippi.  There  they  were  overtaken 
by  want  of  their  usual  comforts,  by  want  of  food,  by  disease, 
and  the  death  of  a  considerable  number  of  them.  The 
remainder  were  brought  back  by  the  efforts  of  the  Friends, 
and  replaced  upon  the  remnant  of  their  former  reservation 
in  New  York. 

"To  the  honor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  says  "  the 
Report,"  it  should  be  recorded  in  perpetuarn  rec  memoriam^ 
that  the  aborigines  of  our  Country,  who  have  sought  and 
found  protection  within  her  borders  have  been  treated  with 
humanity  and  kindness.  "We  believe  that  she  is  now  the 
only  state  of  the  original  thirteen  that  founded  this  Repub- 
lic, in  which  there  remains  a  political,  organized  body  of 
native  Indians.  Even  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  so  much 
lauded  for  her  magnanimity  and  justice  to  the  natives,  it  is 
believed  that  there  is  not  one  foot  of  land  now  owned  or 
occupied  by  an  Indian.  New  York  alone  may  proudly  claim 
the  honor  of  affording  to  several  bands  of  them,  resting 
places  and  security;  she  has  moreover  established  schools 
for  the  education  of  their  children,  and  under  her  fostering 


10   LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

protection,  they  have  been  instructed  and  led  into  the  habits 
and  comforts  of  civilized  life,  she  has  bountifully  assisted  in 
the  support  of  the  schools  established  by  her,  and  has  more- 
over founded  and  contributed,  to  support  among  them  an 
orphan  asylum,  which  shelters  a  large  number  of  destitute 
children."  [See  page  43  of  Pamphlet  of  Documents,  etc., 
also  page  51.] 

Previously  to  serving  upon  this  Indian  Committee, 
Benjamin  Ferris  had  had  his  mind  inclined  to  the  subject  of 
a  history  of  the  early  settlement  of  his  native  state.  His 
leisure,  inclination  and  desire  for  employment  alike  con- 
duced to  the  development  of  this  idea;  and  his  visits  to  New 
York  in  connection  with  his  duties  on  this  committee  gave 
him  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  records  which  were 
deposited  at  Albany,  and  in  the  library  of  the  New  York 
Historical  Society,  with  reference  to  this  subject.  From  the 
Pennsylvania  Historical  Society  he  received  much  assistance; 
and  among  other  sources  of  information  he  sought  to  look  into 
the  records  of  the  Old  Swedes'  church  of  this  place  by  study- 
ing the  Swedish  language,  but  found  great  diflSculties  from 
the  change  of  the  language;  which  was  sufficient  partially 
to  obscure  the  meaning. 

The  field  over  which  he  now  resolved  to  travel  was  one 
without  landmarks,  and  in  a  great  measure  unexplored, 
whose  rich  materials  lay  scattered  widely,  and  in  entire 
confusion.  If  he  had  accomplished  nothing  else,  he 
would,  at  least,  have  had  the  satisfaction  and  credit  of 
setting  up  the  landmarks,  thus  inciting  others  to  travel 
over,  and  labor  upon  the  field,  so  much  more  practicable  and 
easy  of  improvement  than  when  he  first  looked  upon  it.   But 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    11 

he  did  more  than  this;  for  he  arranged  and  matured  a  his- 
tory the  value  of  which,  from  its  rich  materials  of  facts  and 
dates,  so  diligently  sought  out,  and  conscientiously  set  forth, 
must  always  hereafter  be  acknowledged.  Campanius'  small 
work  was  translated  into  the  English  language  by  Peter 
DuPonceau,  the  late  venerable  President  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Historical  Society,  and  so  far  as  I  know,  this  was  the 
only  work  on  this  subject  translated  from  the  Swedish 
language  when  Mr.  Ferris  wrote;  or  at  least  the  only  printed 
one.  The  Rev.  Israel  Acrelius,  and  Rev.  Andreas  Rudman, 
had  written  a  history  of  their  times  in  Swedish,  and  that  of 
the  latter  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Wicaco  church. 
These  persons  were  Lutheran  ministers,  the  former  was  one 
of  the  ministers  of  our  Old  Swedes'  Church;  the  latter  was 
the  first  minister  at  Wicaco  church,  in  the  year  1700. 

The  period  of  general  history  passed  over  in  the  "original 
settlements  on  the  Delaware"  is  from  the  year  1609,  the 
date  of  Hudson's  discoveries  in  America,  to  the  beginning 
of  the  Eighteenth  century,  after  William  Penn  had  organ- 
ized the  government  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
three  counties  on  the  Delaware.  It  would  not  be  in  accord- 
ance with  the  object  of  this  paper  to  set  forth  even  the  out- 
line of  this  interesting  part  of  the  work,  which  is  in  the 
hands  of  so  many  of  our  citizens. 

The  next  division  of  the  work  is  occupied  with  a  history 
of  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  of  the  Swedes,  a  history-  which 
begins  with,  and  clusters  around  our  Old  Swedes'  Church; 
that  ancient  building,  which  challenges  our  veneration, 
as  carrying  back  our  associations  so  far  into  the  past  of 
this  country,  not  only  in  fancy,  but  by  its  solemn  personal 
presence. 


12  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

The  third  part  of  the  work  is  devoted  to  the  history  of 
our  own  city,  and  neighborhood — its  origin,  gradual  growth 
and  advancement  up  to  the  period  of  the  publication  of  the 
book  in  the  year  1846,  when  Mr.  Ferris  estimated  our  popu- 
lation at  7,000. 

The  political  history  of  the  State,  as  it  was  involved  in 
the  wars  for  Independence  did  not  enter  into  the  scope  of 
the  work  which  he  set  himself  to  perform;  this  yet  remains 
to  be  gathered  up,  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  each  year  is 
destroying  the  materials  for  such  a  history.  Since  the  above 
was  written,  I  have  received  the  first  number  of  a  work  on 
the  history  of  Delaware  by  Francis  Vincent  of  this  city; — 
which  is  intended  to  cover  the  ground  left  untouched  by 
Mr.  Ferris. 

"The  original  settlements"  was  published  in  the  year 
1846,  and  the  whole  edition  was  so  fully  absorbed  that  it  is 
diflScult  now  to  obtain  a  copy  of  it.  About  the  year  1856,  Ben- 
jamin Ferris  was  seized  with  a  paralysis,  which  destroyed  in  a 
great  measure  his  power  of  speech,  and  wholly  that  of  read- 
ing and  writing,  and  although  he  lived  1 1  years  afterwards, 
his  speech  returned  only  imperfectly.  But  during  that 
period  he  might  be  seen  daily  walking  abroad  with  some 
member  of  his  family,  as  active  as  anyone  among  us  of  his 
age.  He  thus  kept  himself  acquainted  with  the  progress  of 
improvement  in  our  city,  and  also  with  the  scenes  of  his 
earlier  life,  as  far  as  they  remained.  These  changes  which 
have  taken  place  so  rapidly  within  the  past  few  years,  he 
looked  upon  with  a  good  deal  of  emotion,  as  they  obliterated 
yearly  the  old  places,  full  of  associations  of  the  history  of 
the  past,  in  which  he  had  loved  so  much  to  dwell.     In  "the 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.   13 

Original  Settlements,"  he  thus  beautifully  expresses  himself, 
page  172. 

Much  as  such  a  lament  as  this  may  be  scouted  by 
those  who  are  entirely  engrossed  with  passing  events,  who 
find  their  only  pleasure  in  the  rapid  march  of  population, 
and  its  attendants,  no  one  need  be  ashamed  of  a  heart  which 
originates  and  gives  vent  to  such  sentiments. 

"For  one  hundred  years,  says  he,  after  the  adjacent 
City  of  Wilmington  was  laid  out,  the  old  church  stood  nearly 
half  a  mile  from  the  built  part  of  it.  Its  situation  secluded 
and  quiet.  The  scenery  all  around  it  was  indeed  beautiful, 
but  calculated  rather  to  tranquilize  the  feelings  than  to 
excite  them.  The  Christiana  flowed  by  between  its  green 
bordering  of  reeds,  but  a  few  paces  from  the  church  yard 
walls.  Many  a  bright  sail  was  to  be  seen  on  a  summer 
evening,  gliding  along  its  noiseless  current.  Behind  it  was 
the  beautiful  Brandywine,  and  beyond  it  the  majestic  Dela- 
ware, bounded  by  the  blue  line  of  Jersey  Woods,  and  rolling 
its  mighty  waters  toward  the  mightier  Atlantic.  Rich  green 
meadows  lay  immediately  round  the  church;  all  these,  with 
the  countless  interesting  associations  connected  with  the 
place,  combined  to  make  a  walk  to  the  old  church  yard  a 
favorite  object  both  to  the  old  and  young. 

In  no  spot,  perhaps,  on  this  side  of  the  ocean,  where 
almost  everything  is  new  and  fresh,  where  there  is  so  little 
to  excite  feeling  of  veneration,  or  gratify  the  taste  of  the 
antiquary,  are  there  so  many  circumstances,  enabling  us  to 
reaUze  some  of  the  best  productions  of  the  British  muse,  as 
in  our  old  church  yard.  If  the  poet,  Thomson,  had  been 
buried  here,  Collin's  beautiful  ode  on  his  death,  would  have 
suited    the  surrounding   scenery   as  well    as  it  suits  the 


14  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

vicinity  of  Richmond  church.  Had  Gray  written  his  incom- 
parable Elegy  here,  he  would  not  have  wanted  but  few 
subjects  to  have  made  it  what  it  is;  and  he  might  have 
found  interesting  substitutes  for  such  as  we  have  not.  We 
have  indeed  no  "ivy-mantled  towers,"  those  beautiful  mon- 
uments of  feudal  barbarism,  but  we  have  ivy-mantled  trees, 
which  in  the  evening  of  the  year,  are  clothed  in  colors 
more  splendid  than  any  the  poet  ever  witnessed,  in  the 
changing  foliage  of  his  own  country.  These,  from  the  fact 
that  this  very  splendor  is  the  sure  precursor  of  its  own  fall, 
an  infallible  sign  that  the  gentle  hand  of  death  is  upon  it, 
are  as  appropriate  subjects  of  church  yard  meditations,  as 
any  in  his  poem.  It  is  true,  we  have  no  "yew  trees  shade," 
but  we  have  our  ' '  rugged  elms ' '  and  many  other  trees 
native  of  our  country,  whose  branches  are  as  thickly  inter- 
woven, and  who  as  kindly  throw  their  broad  shadows  o'er 
the  quiet  mansions  of  the  dead,  as  the  cypress  or  the  yew. 
Our  old  cemetery  contains,  in  sober  truth,  the  relics  of  those 
who  cleared  the  dense  forests  and  tangled  brakes  of  our 
country,  who  literally  "bowed  the  woods  beneath  their 
sturdy  stroke."  We  can  say  of  it,  without  any  draft  on 
poetic  license,  for  the  sake  of  embellishment. 

"Beneath  the  sycamore's  extended  shade, 
Where  heaves  the  turf  in  many  a  mouldering  heap. 

Each  in  his  narrow  cell  forever  laid, 
The  rude  forefathers  of  the  hamlet  sleep." 

But  alas  !  "Time  spoils  all  things,"  and  trade,  which 
has  no  poetry  in  it,  has  made  sad  encroachments  on  the 
venerable  monuments  of  our  Swedish  predecessors.  The 
city  is  fast  invading  the  quietude  and  retirement  of  the  old 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    15 

church.  Within  seven  years,  some  hundred  of  houses  have 
sprung  up  on  that  side  of  the  town.  The  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  has  pushed  its  unre- 
lenting way  through  a  part  of  the  graveyard.  The  beau- 
tiful site  of  the  little  town  of  Christianaham,  is  cut  through 
for  the  passage  of  the  "rapid  car."  The  very  spot  where  the 
valiant  Governor  of  the  New  Netherlands,  Peter  Stuy vesant 
of  warlike  mein  and  memory,  with  his  sage  counsellor 
Nicatius  de  Sylle,  of  the  one  part,  and  John  Claudii  Rising, 
Governor  General  of  New  Sweden,  with  his  commissary 
Elswyck  on  the  other  part,  held  a  parley  for  the  surrender 
of  Fort  Christiana,  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago — that  very 
spot  is  now  a  yawni7ig  gulph,  excavated  wide  and  deep,  out 
of  which  have  been  taken  thousands  of  tons  of  stone,  to 
make  the  Delaware  Breakwater.  But  what  is  more  censur- 
able than  all,  as  having  less  excuse,  a  most  magnificent  row 
of  trees,  which  ranged  along  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
graveyard,  has  been  sacrificed  not  to  necessity,  but  to  a 
miserable  want  of  taste.  A  noble  old  walnut  tree  which 
grew  there,  and  which  Old  Minuet,  the  first  governor,  has 
many  a  time  gazed  upon,  measuring  seven  feet  in  diameter 
at  its  base,  flourishing  and  vigorous,  and  perfectly  sound, 
was  not  many  years  ago,  sold  for  a  few  dollars,  and  cut 
down  to  be  converted  into  gun  stocks  ' '  sic  transit  gloria 
mundi." 

The  memory  of  the  scenes  and  places  of  earlier  life 
always  become  more  dear  to  the  ingenuous  mind,  as  change 
and  death  take  away,  year  by  year,  those  whom  we  loved 
and  cherished,  and  leave  us  connected  more  and  more  loosely 
to  the  present,  as  these  ties  are  sundered.  Youth  full  of 
energy,  hope,  and  trust,  looks  only  forward  into  the  future, 


16  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

mature  age,  too  often  wearied  by  the  disappointments,  and 
troubles  of  life,  and  seeking  repose,  turns  its  eye  backward 
upon  the  calm  and  placid  field  of  early  and  well  spent  days, 
drawing  comfort  and  cheer  from  their  distant  and  solemn 
perspective. 

About  the  year  1835,  he  withdrew  from  business. 
Never  much  engrossed  in  its  active  duties,  and  not  at  all 
anxious  for  its  emoluments,  he  was  a  full  believer  in  the 
truth,  that  "a  man's  life  consisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of 
things  which  he  possesseth."  From  that  date  until  he 
was  disabled  by  disease,  he  spent  his  time  chiefly  in  literary 
pursuits,  in  the  congenial  society  of  his  family,  of  the  large 
circle  of  his  relatives  and  friends  here  and  elsewhere,  and  in 
duties  connected  with  the  religious  society  of  which  he  was 
a  member.  While  keeping  aloof  from  party  politics,  he  felt 
a  warm  interest  in  the  general  welfare  of  his  country,  and 
his  feelings  were  always  enlisted  when  "the  higher  law"  was 
involved  in  a  political  conflict.  This  led  him  to  cast  his 
only  vote  at  a  Presidential  election,  in  hope  that  it  might 
help  to  avert  the  adoption  of  the  Missouri  Compromise;  and 
the  principles  at  issue  in  the  late  war  made  him  follow  its 
course  with  painful  interest,  and  would  have  induced  him  to 
vote  for  the  re-election  of  Lincoln,  but  that  he  was  confined 
to  the  house  by  indisposition. 

But  agitations  and  excitements  of  political  life  possessed 
no  attractions  to  draw  him  away  from  the  serene  retreats 
and  enjoyments  to  which  he  had  retired,  and  where  he  found 
a  field  for  the  exercise  of  those  qualities  of  mind,  which  with 
an  unfailing  kindliness  and  cheerfulness  diffused  a  genial 
and  elevating  influence  wherever  he  visited.    I  have  already 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    17 

read  an  extract  from  a  family  record  made  by  Mr.  Ferris 
relative  to  the  character  of  his  ancestors.  Basing  his  own 
principles  upon  those  which  they  professed,  he  exemplified 
them  in  the  conduct  of  his  daily  life,  and  thus  added  another 
to  the  list  of  his  family,  who  "dying  left  no  stain  behind 
him."  Thus  loved  by  his  family,  and  honored  by  his  friends 
he  lived,  until  in  his  87th  year,  he  composedly  and  hopefully 
gave  up  his  spirit  to  its  Great  Author. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends — in  that 
faith  he  lived, — in  it  he  died — and  his  last  resting  place  is  in 
their  place  of  sepulture. 


18  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 


REMINISCENCES 

OF 

BENJAMIN  FERRIS 

BY  HIS  SON,  DAVID  FERRIS. 


In  penning  these  memoirs  I  am  aware  that  they  are 
records  of  an  humble  life,  unconnected  with  military  re- 
nown, or  with  titled  or  noble  descent,  or  with  political  dis- 
tinction; "  but  in  the  quiet  ways  of  unobtrusive  goodness 
known."  My  father  was  born  in  the  house  now  standing 
on  the  N.  E.  corner  of  Third  and  Shipley  streets,  8th  mo. , 
7th,  1780;  it  was  built  by  his  father,  Ziba  Ferris.  My 
father  was  interested  in  genealogical  research  and  traced 
his  ancestry  back  several  generations  with  industry  and 
success. 

Samuel  Ferris  the  original  emigrant  of  the  Ferris  family, 
(and  the  one  from  whom  it  is  supposed  all  of  that  name  in 
the  United  States  have  descended)  came  from  Reading  in 
England.  He  settled  east  from  Boston,  at  Groton.  His  son 
Zechariah,  settled  in  New  Milford,  Conn.  Zechariah  had 
eight  or  nine  children;  the  family  were  Presbyterian  but 
became  dissatisfied  with  the  sterner  doctrines  of  that  sect,  and 
eventually  joined  the  Friends  (called  Quakers).  It  is  re- 
markable that  five  of  them  came  to  be  preachers  in  the 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    19 

society  of  Friends.  Four  of  the  brothers,  John,  David, 
Zechariah,  and  Benjamin  moved  to  Wilmington,  David  in 
1737,  John  in  1748.  The  settlement  of  these  four  brothers 
all  earnest  ministers  of  Friends  in  a  small  town,  had  a 
marked  effect  on  the  prosperity  and  moral  character  of  the 
place.  William  Shipley,  also  a  Friend  of  quite  large  means, 
invested  in  property  here  and  settled  about  the  time  David 
Ferris  came.  From  this  time  the  place  prospered,  many 
Friends  moved  in,  and  their  meeting  increased.  In  1738, 
their  first  meeting  house  was  built  at  Fourth  and  West  Sts. 

My  father  placed  the  following  lines  at  the  head  of  a 
Genealogy  : 

I  would  not  take  descent  from  Royal  line, 

Could  all  the  wealth  of  all  the  world  be  mine; 

Hereditary  ills  torment  the  race, 

Deep  in  their  robes  the  stains  of  vice  we  trace; 

I  boast  a  nobler  birth,  to  me  'tis  given 

To  trace  my  lineage  up  from  earth  to  Heaven. 

When  my  father  was  five  or  six  years  old,  a  friend  who 
was  visiting  at  their  home  amused  the  boy  by  taking  him  on 
his  knee  and  showing  him  a  watch;  he  opened  it  and  let  the 
child  see  the  wheels  moving,  explaining  that  they  moved 
the  hands  so  as  to  indicate  the  time.  That  incident  caused 
my  father  to  choose  watchmaking  as  a  business.  My  Grand- 
father Ziba,  deceased,  when  my  father  was  about  14  years 
old  in  1794;  then  the  question  of  choosing  a  trade  came  up 
and  he  earnestly  pleaded  to  learn  watchmaking.  His  school 
education  up  to  that  time  was  very  limited,  merel}'  the  rudi- 
ments, under  teachers  of  very  limited  capacity  and  book 
knowledge. 


20  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

He  was  apprenticed  to  Thomas  Parker  of  Philadelphia, 
and  faithfully  served  out  his  time  with  him  and  learned  all 
that  could  be  learned  of  the  trade  there.  He  and  his  fellow 
apprentice  would  leave  their  beds  often  before  daylight  and 
walk  three  or  four  miles  before  breakfast;  this  early  exer- 
cise kept  them  in  robust  health  and  preserved  them  from  the 
evil  effects  of  long  confinement  at  the  bench.  When  father 
went  to  Philadelphia,  hundreds  of  French  emigrants'  were 
arriving  in  this  country.  They  were  often  the  most  highly 
educated  and  gifted  Frenchmen  of  noble  families;  exiled  by 
the  Revolution.  My  father  was  much  interested  in  them 
and  he  wanted  to  learn  their  language,  but  his  mother  was 
much  shocked  at  the  atrocities  of  the  French  revolution  then 
in  progress,  in  France;  and  used  her  influence  to  prevent  it. 
Father's  temperament  was  one  to  overcome  difl&culties. 
Closely  confined  at  his  trade,  without  money  and  with  every 
obstacle  in  his  way;  during  his  apprenticeship  he  learned 
French,  and  learned  it  well;  learned  to  speak  as  well  as  read 
it,  and  some  of  the  Frenchmen  told  him  he  had  acquired  the 
real  Parisian  accent.  His  term  of  apprenticeship  was  im- 
proved also  by  the  study  of  history,  particularly  that  of 
England  in  which  he  became  very  well  versed;  his  memory 
of  dates  was  so  good  that  he  could  recall  the  time  of  the 
occurrence  of  any  important  event  in  English  history,  with 
the  date  and  duration  of  the  reign  of  each  monarch.  All 
the  money  he  could  save  was  spent  in  buying  books  or  pay- 
ing for  instruction  in  useful  knowledge.  He  was  a  self- 
made  man,  and  that  "spark  of  nature's  fire,"  of  which  the 
poet  Burns  writes.  When  his  apprenticeship  ended  he  had 
acquired  a  fund  of  useful  information;  a  knowledge  of  human 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.   21 

nature,  and  the  friendship  of  some  very  intelligent  men  out- 
side of  his  religious  society.  Among  these  were  some  of  the 
French  emigrants  I  have  alluded  to.  Several  eminent 
among  them  settled  here  in  Wilmington  and  vicinity.  Irene 
DuPont,  Alexander  Garashe,  Peter  Bauday,  among  the 
number.  Father  was  genial  and  social,  he  had  a  conversa- 
tional gift,  and  could  talk  to  these  French  men  fluently  in 
their  own  language,  and  they  had  very  pleasant  social  inter- 
course. Father  was  married  to  Fannj'  Canby,May  17,  1804, 
he  was  very  fond  of  children  and  had  a  happy  faculty  of 
amusing  and  instructing  them. 

Many  verses  of  poetry  with  a  good  moral;  many  puzzles 
and  enigmas  in  rhyme  he  wrote  for  us.  Many  pretty  fancy 
pictures  with  pen,  pencil,  and  brush,  he  made  for  us,  some 
of  which  are  yet  extant.     I  here  copy  two  or  three  : 


TO  MY  CHILDREN. 
An  Allegory. 

In  a  rich  verdant  meadow,  with  herbage  abounding, 
Two  sweet  little  lambs  by  their  mother  were  fed ; 

A  tall  hedge  impervious  the  pasture  surrounding. 

Secured  them  from  wolves  the  great  object  of  dread. 

You  see  said  their  Dam  in  this  meadow  gay  blooming 
How  safely  we  feed  !     How  delighted  we  range. 

May  we  ne'er  on  our  strength  or  our  wisdom  presuming 
Desire  to  wander,  or  venture  to  change. 

Yon  Forest  majestic  that  waves  so  inviting 

As  a  dwelling  of  peace,  at  this  distance  appears, 

But  hear  me  my  lambkins  in  carnage  delighting. 
There  ranges  the  dread  Wolf,  the  cause  of  my  fears. 


22  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

Tho'  beyond  our  enclosure  to  view  all  alluring 
The  green  sloping  hills,  and  gay  vallies  are  spread, 

Yet  ah;  venture  not !  sure  'tis  easy  enduring, 
The  absence  of  pleasure  with  safety  instead. 

So  spake  a  fond  mother — a  sense  of  their  danger 
Pervaded  the  breast  of  each  listening  lamb — 

They  shuddered  to  think  on  the  fate  of  the  ranger. 
And  promised  to  feed  by  the  side  of  their  dam. 

But  one  of  these  lambkins  its  mother  unheeding, 
Allured  by  temptation  once  ventured  to  stray, 

A  wolf  in  the  woods  heard  the  wanderer  bleating, 
Rushed  onward  voracious  and  made  her  his  prey. 

MORAL. 

O'er  the  limits  of  truth  when  presuming  we  straj'. 
And  leave  the  enjoj-ments  of  virtue  behind. 

How  dark  is  the  gloom  that  envelopes  our  way; 

Leading  downward  to  death  of  the  dreadfullest  kind. 

ENIGMA.     (Alcohol) 
I  am  altogether  Spirit 
And  yet  I  am  corporeal 
Tho'  found  on  earth  I  yet  inherit 
A  nature  quite  etherial 
I  physic  I  have  skill 
Yet  men  of  sense  reject  me 
My  bosom  friends  I  kill 
And  yet  they  much  respect  me. 

Benjamin  Ferris  up  to  1820  was  very  little  known  in 
public  outside  his  own  religious  society; — he  took  no  part  in 
pohtics,  he  held  no  pubhc  ofi&ce,  he  declined  even  to  vote 
for  a  President  of  the  United  States  because  he  was  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  Army.  A  simple  incident  brought 
him  into  more  general  notice  in  religious  circles  in  and  near 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    23 

Wilmington.      In  the  5th  mo.    182 1,  there  appeared  (in  a 
religious  weekly  periodical  called  "The  Christian   Reposi- 
tory") an  anonymous  letter  over  the  signature  of  'Paul', 
charging   the   Society  of    Friends   with   holding  doctrines 
inimical  to  the  principles  of  the  Gospel  as  contained  in  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.     After  three  of 
these  letters  from  Paul,  one  appeared  over  the  signature  of 
Amicus  commencing  to  answer  these  charges.     This  doctri- 
nal controversy  was  kept  up  weekly  almost  without  interrup- 
tion   until  2nd   mo.    1823    with   great  earnestness,    ability 
and  toward   the   last   with   some   acrimony.     It   embraced 
Internal  Light,   Water  Baptism,    Lord's  Supper,   Trinity, 
Vicarious   Atonement,    Scriptures,    Justification,    etc.,   etc. 
The  public  considered  the  subjects  very  ably  argued  on  both 
sides,  of  course  each  person  giving  preference  to  the  side 
where  education  and  previous  conviction  inclined  them.    The 
contestants  grew  more  uncharitable,  and  condemnatory  as 
the   contest   proceeded,    as   is   natural.     Each  claimed  the 
victory,   as  is  also  natural  and  they  seemed  to  get  farther 
apart  in  their  own  views.    Paul  was  Rev.  Eliphalet  W.  Gilbert 
a  Presbyterian  Minister  a  man  much  beloved  by  his  congre- 
gation and  respected  and  honored  wherever  known.     I  think 
he  was  a  good  man,  and  sincerely  desirous  of  enlightening 
Friends  and  warning  them  of  their  heresy.     It  ma)^  here  be 
noted  that  in  a  few  years  Friends  and  Presbyterians  each 
divided  on  doctrinal  points.     It  may  be  noted  that  each  one 
of  the  contestants  took  the  liberal  or  progressive  side  in  the 
division  of  his  Society.   Gilbert  with  the  New  School,  Ferris 
with  what  is  known  as  the  Hicksite  branch    of    Friends. 
This   long   correspondence   made   a  great  addition  to   my 
father's  stock  of  information;  in  the  rudiments  of  Greek, 


24  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

Hebrew,  and  Latin, — in  Church  History,  and  the  enlightened 
study  of  the  Bible  and  of  Ancient  History.  It  gave  the 
Christian  Repository  a  larger  circulation  and  its  readers 
much  useful  information.  The  literary  work  of  my  father 
best  known  to  the  public  is  his  History  of  the  Original 
Settlements  on  the  Delaware,  published  in  1846  with  a 
History  of  Wilmington.  Peter  Minuit  in  command  of  two 
vessels  the  'Key  of  Calniar  and  Grifi&n'  landed  at  the  rocks 
on  the  Christiana  near  the  Old  Swedes'  Church  early  in  the 
Spring  of  1638.  This  was  the  foundation  of  the  Swedish 
\nllage  of  Christina  named  after  the  infant  daughter  of  the 
Great,  'Gustavus  Adolphus'. 

In  1 73 1  Thomas  Willing  laid  out  streets  for  the  town 
that  afterward  became  Wilmington.  It  was  first  called  after 
its  founder  Thomas  Willing,  Willing-town.  The  first  house 
stood  at  the  corner  of  Front  and  Market  streets  and  bore 
the  date  of  1732.  The  little  town  languished  for  want  of 
settlers  and  in  1735  it  contained  only  from  15  to  20  houses 
of  every  description.  The  town  then  began  to  improve  and 
in  1740  was  estimated  to  contain  600  inhabitants,  in  1793 
2500,  1830,  7000. 

In  1739  a  charter  was  obtained  naming  it  Wilmington, 
the  first  vessel  for  foreign  trade  was  built  in  1740,  by  Wm. 
Shipley,  David  Ferris  and  others  named  the  Wilmington. 
It  is  likely  about  this  time  the  town  took  this  name,  1739. 

Father  declined  watchmaking  and  removed  from  Phila- 
delphia to  Wilmington  in  18 13.  He  had  acquired  a  very 
plain  beautiful  business  hand  writing  and  adopted  Surveying 
and  Conveyancing  as  a  business  here.  He  bought  the  house 
where  he  deceased  and  in  which  the  family  have  ever  since 
resided  in    181 7.     Perhaps  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    25 

read  here  an  extract  from  a  tribute  to  his  memory  pubhshed 
in  the  Friends  Intelligencer. 

"A  rare  and  gifted  spirit  has  passed  from  among  us, 
and  entered  upon  the  higher  life.  His  wonderful  conver- 
sational powers  adapted  themselves  with  remarkable  versality 
to  all  ages  and  capacities.  He  was  a  connecting  link  between 
the  present  generation  and  the  past;  his  retentive  memory 
and  power  of  representation  enabling  him  from  an  in- 
exhaustible fund  of  anecdote  and  illustration  to  give  life 
pictures  of  the  character  and  manners  of  those  who  have 
passed  away.  He  was  a  beautiful  example  of  the  cheerful 
Christian,  and  his  high  gifts  employed  in  the  right  direction 
made  pleasant  and  attractive  the  lessons  they  conveyed. 
His  able  pen  was  often  employed  as  the  earnest  advocate  of 
the  spirituality  of  Christian  faith.  His  sympathies  were 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  poor  Indians  and  by  advocating 
their  cause  with  those  in  authority  he  was  instrumental  in 
redressing  their  wrongs.  But  the  most  impressive  lessons 
gained  from  his  example  were  in  the  last  twelve  years  of  his 
life.  When  suddenly  deprived  of  the  powers  that  had  con- 
tributed so  largely  to  his  own  and  others'  enjoyment, 
although  fully  conscious  of  the  loss  he  bowed  in  cheerful 
acquiescence  to  the  Divine  Will;  and  the  strong  gifted  man, 
laying  down  strength  and  gifts  entered  while  on  earth  into 
the  Heaven  of  lyOve.  Many  can  bear  witness  that  however 
great  was  the  enjoyment  of  his  society  in  the  days  of  his 
intellectual  power,  far  greater  in  these  latter  days  was  the 
charm  of  the  sweetness  of  his  spirit,  and  the  love  which 
seemed  to  embrace  the  whole  human  family: — all  those  who 
came   within  its  influence  were  made  to  feel  ;   how  blessed 


26   LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

are  they  who  in  their  evening  twilight,  are  permitted  to  see 
the  arising  of  the  brightness  of  the  future  day.  While  we 
deeply  feel  the  absence  of  one  so  long  loved  we  must  also 
rejoice  that  the  burden  of  weakness  and  weariness  has  been 
laid  down,  and  he  has  entered  upon  the  Heavenly  inherit- 
ance of  joj'  unspeakable.  We  cannot  close  better  than  by 
quoting  his  own  words,  so  applicable  to  himself: — 

Thrice  blessed  even  here  tho'  in  life's  lowest  station 
The  Christian  who  sits  at  the  feet  of  his  Lord. 
With  joy  bears  his  cross  thro'  this  scene  of  probation 
And  patiently  waits  his  eternal  reward. 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    27 


A  TRIBUTE  TO  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

BY  PENNOCK  PUSEY. 

Among  the  many  pleasant  recollections  of  a  happy 
childhood,  I  readily  recall  that  of  two  brothers  of  mature 
years,  who  were  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends  when  I 
was  an  attendant  at  its  meetings  in  my  early  teens. 

With  all  the  hallowed  associations  of  home  and  the 
specially  gentle  and  kindly  influences  which  seem  veritable 
exhalations  from  the  peaceful  circles  of  Friends,  there  was 
always  something  in  Quakerly  decorum  and  its  studied  re- 
pression of  emotional  exhibits  that  was  trying  at  least,  if 
not  appalling  to  the  exuberant  spirits  of  average  youth  and 
especially  to  the  irruptive  propensities  of  the  unmitigated 
urchin. 

Perhaps  this  was  one  of  the  many  reasons  for  the  early 
and  ardent  admiration  I  conceived  for  the  brothers  Benjamin 
and  Ziba  Ferris  ;  for  they  differed  greatly  from  the  average 
Friend,  at  least  in  outward  demeanor  by  their  more  demon- 
strative nature,  invariably  exhibiting  as  they  did  a  rare 
cordiality  in  their  greetings,  readiness  of  expression,  and  a 
buoyant  and  happy  suavity  of  manner  which  made  personal 
intercourse  with  them  very  charming. 

Without  any  lack  of  the  solid  merits  so  much  prized 
and  inculcated  among  Friends  these  brothers,  alike  in  the 
Ferris  name,  their  rather  short  and  compact  physique,  their 


28   LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

tastes,  aptitudes  aud  activities  and  especially  in  a  certain 
facile  and  vivacious  elegance  of  deportment  in  their  common 
intercourse  with  all  conditions  of  people,  evidenced  qualities, 
attributes  and  peculiarities  which  are  usually  accepted  as 
characteristic  of  the  French  people.  And  hence  the  rather 
definite  tradition  and  long  prevalent  conjecture  that  they 
were  remotely  of  French  origin,  their  ancestors  having  fled 
with  the  Huguenot  refugees  who  sought  protection  in  En- 
gland upon  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  While 
such  a  family  origin  seems  probable  there  are  no  ascertained 
facts  to  support  it,  and  their  ancestry  has  been  traced  no 
further  back  than  to  an  English  family  resident  in  Reading, 
Berkshire  county,  England,  whose  descendants  emigrated 
first  to  Massachusetts,  thence  to  Connecticut  and  finally  to 
Delaware  where,  in  Wilmington,  the  brothers  were  born, 
lived  and  died. 

Benjamin  Ferris  was  an  inveterate  reader  and  a  diligent 
student.  He  early  evinced  a  keen  relish  for  subjects  per- 
taining to  colonial  settlements  in  the  New  World,  and  he 
applied  himself  to  historical  researches  with  such  faithful 
and  conscientious  zeal  as  realized  the  best  results.  It  would 
be  difficult  indeed  to  exaggerate  the  value  of  his  labors  in 
exemplifying  the  peculiarities,  causes  and  character  of  the 
early  settlements  in  the  Delaware.  He  was  in  the  best  sense 
of  the  term  the  father  of  Delaware  history;  and  as  the  first 
writer  who  achieved  the  task  of  producing  a  connected  and 
systematic  early  history  of  our  state,  he  placed  his  fellow 
citizens  and  their  descendants  under  a  lasting  debt  of  grati- 
tude. In  the  light  of  the  present  facilities  for  elucidating 
historic  subjects  it  is  difficult  to  overstate  or  comprehend 
the  obstacles  encountered  by  Mr.  Ferris  in  the  prosecution  of 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.   29 

his  labors.  It  should  be  remembered  that  at  that  early 
period  the  Dutch  and  Swedish  records  had  not  yet  been 
translated,  which  necessitated  at  least  arudimental  acquaint- 
ance with  the  languages  in  which  they  were  written,  and 
that  to  insure  accuracy  and  completeness  of  the  work  it  was 
necessary  to  hire  the  services  of  competent  masters  of  the 
respective  languages,  in  order  to  their  thorough  and  satis- 
factory rendition  into  the  English  tongue.  It  should  more- 
over not  be  forgotten  that  the  original  records  were  not 
infrequently  of  a  crude  and  illiterate  character,  so  disjointed 
and  confused  as  to  demand  much  hard  study,  quick  sagacity, 
and  skillful  arrangement  for  their  easy  comprehension.  But 
perhaps  not  the  least  discouragement  confronting  our  early 
historian  was  his  literary  isolation,  the  lack  of  sympathy 
with,  and  appreciation  of  his  difficult  task  on  the  part  of 
otherwise  kind  neighbors  and  friends. 

With  the  rapidly  growing  and  most  recent  public  in- 
terest in  historic  matters  and  the  very  gratifying  develop- 
ment of  the  historic  spirit  during  the  past  forty  years,  it  can 
scarcely  be  believed  with  what  cold  indifference  the  valuable 
historic  volume  of  Friend  Ferris  was  received  by  the  general 
public  upon  its  publication  in  the  year  1846.  Indeed  there 
seemed  at  that  period  and  for  some  years  later  a  petty  and 
almost  resentful  public  feeling  which  was  inclined  to  censure 
any  departure  from  strictly  utilitarian  pursuits  in  their 
narrowest  sense,  and  to  frown  upon  every  suggestion  or 
movement  aiming  at  any  end  outside  the  scope  of  the  clam- 
orous present.  The  writer  speaks  advisedly  and  perhaps 
with  some  little  feeling  upon  this  point  from  his  experience 
in  originating  an  attempted  movement  for  marking  the  first 


30  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

landing  place  of  the  Swedes  on  the  Christiana,  less  than 
thirty  years  ago,  which  elicited  a  response  of  shallow  ridi- 
cule in  lieu  of  friendly  co-operation. 

Under  all  the  circumstances  the  successful  issue  of  Mr. 
Ferris'  History  of  the  Original  Settlements  on  the  Delaware 
was  an  achievement  of  which  Delawareans  may  be  gratefully 
proud.  It  is  a  history  not  rendered  obsolete  by  later  dis- 
coveries, but  everywhere  still  accepted  as  high  authority 
along  historic  lines,  with  fewer  and  less  important  errors 
than  were  inevitable  in  the  average  publications  of  the  time, 
a  volume  now  so  prized  that  copies  are  obtainable  only  with 
much  difficulty  and  expense. 

But  Benjamin  Ferris  was  not  only  a  competent  historian; 
he  was  an  indefatigable  worker,  an  able  and  versatile  writer, 
and  a  many-sided  man  of  worthy  and  beneficent  aspirations, 
who  faithfully  sought  the  betterment  of  his  fellows,  and  the 
social,  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  general  public. 
While  well  informed  upon  scientific  matters  and  profoundly 
read  in  general  history  he  was  a  thorough  master  of  the 
French  language,  in  which  tongue  he  took  pleasure  in  con- 
versing with  the  old  French  residents,  of  which  there  was 
once  a  goodly  number  in  Wilmington.  Mr.  Ferris  was  a 
man  of  delicate  fancy  and  rare,  quiet  wit,  gifted  with  a 
warm  imagination  and  the  enthusiastic  temperament  of  a  poet. 
He  wrote  graceful  verse  with  rhythmical  flow,  force  and 
beauty;  he  indulged  a  nice  capacity  for  skillful  drawing  and 
sketching  with  playful  illustrations,  and  he  left  many  evi- 
dences that  he  could  have  excelled  in  these  lighter  accom- 
plishments had  he  chosen  to  devote  his  time  and  efforts 
thereto.  But  these  were  the  amusements  of  his  leisure 
moments,  while   weightier   matters   largely  connected  with 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.   31 

his  moral  and  religious  duties  as  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  occupied  his  working  hours.  If,  as  Carlyle  has 
said,  genius  is  simply  a  capacity  for  work,  Benjamin  Ferris 
was  a  man  of  genius;  for  his  work  was  constant,  varied, 
unwearied  and  effective.  Alike  in  his  historical  labors  and 
as  Amicus  in  his  celebrated  religious  controversy  with  Paul 
he  exhibited  intellectual  grasp  and  charitable  breadth  of 
view,  while  any  tendency  towards  narrow  austerity  or  bitter- 
ness, had  there  been  such,  would  have  been  checked  and 
tempered  by  the  gentler  influences  of  his  liberal  and  poetic 
feeling,  to  say  nothing  of  his  religious  toleration.  In  short 
Benjamin  Ferris  united  in  rare  decree  the  capacit}'  for  nice 
detail  wuth  the  power  of  broad  generalization,  to  which 
withal  were  added  at  once  the  modesty  and  genial  attributes 
that  made  him  a  general  favorite  and  courtly  grace  and 
quiet  dignity  marking  the  finished  gentleman. 

I  shall  never  forget  the  prompt  and  buoyant  response 
he  once  made  to  a  query  of  mine,  nor  the  helpful  pleasure  I 
derived  from  it.  I  had  just  read  with  avidity  his  history  of 
the  original  settlements  on  the  Delaware,  and  meeting  the 
author  on  the  street  I  ventured  to  express  my  great  gratifi- 
cation with  it,  and  to  enquire  as  to  the  location  of  Crane 
Hook  church.  I  have  alluded  to  the  listless  reception 
accorded  this  historic  volume  on  its  first  appearance,  and 
perhaps  its  author  was  then  feeling  sadly  the  lack  of  general 
interest  in  his  labors.  At  all  events  his  face  suddenly  hghted 
up  at  my  words,  and  putting  his  arm  through  mine  he  ex- 
claimed, "I  am  dehghted  with  so  much  interest  in  so  young 
a  person  ;  now  come  with  me,  and  I'll  show  thee  at  once 
where  the  ancient  church  stood,"  and  so  conducting  me  to 


32  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

the  brow  of  the  hill  near  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  King 
streets,  from  which  elevated  point  there  where  then  fewer 
tall  buildings  obstructing  the  view,  he  pointed  across  inter- 
vening levels  to  the  majestic  old  buttonwood  on  the  distant 
river  shore;  "There!"  he  said  "touched  by  the  shade  of 
that  grand  old  tree  and  skirting  its  long  easterly  branches 
stood  Crane  Hook  church;  it  was  erected  nearly  two  hun- 
dred years  ago,  so  we  may  begin  to  feel  that  our  locality  has 
a  past  as  well  as  a  future. ' ' 

Preceding  and  following  this  information  his  animated 
talk  was  full  of  stirring  and  instructive  interest,  touching 
the  abounding  material  and  rich  historic  interest  of  our 
immediate  vicinity,  while  there  was  a  contagious  inspiration 
in  his  glowing  and  earnest  manner,  from  the  effects  of  which 
I  trust  I  may  not  yet  have  wholly  recovered. 

Two  other  incidents  connected  with  the  memory  of 
Benjamin  Ferris,  I  recall  with  pleasure  both  because  of  their 
association  with  a  treasured  past  and  because  they  illustrate 
the  ready  tact  and  wise  toleration  which  were  among  the 
pronounced  characteristics  of  our  departed  friend.  One  of 
these  pertained  to  the  wedding  of  the  parents  of  our  fellow 
townsman  Howard  Pyle,  which  took  place  at  a  private  resi- 
dence, but  according  to  Friend's  ceremony,  whereat  the 
writer  was  one  of  the  assistants.  Benjamin  Ferris  was  one 
of  the  committee  of  Friends  usually  appointed  by  the  Meet- 
ing to  be  present  on  such  occasions  to  insure  the  due  order 
and  nice  proprieties  they  earnestly  enjoin.  After  the  cere- 
mony was  over,  but  before  the  evening  was  half  spent 
Friend  Ferris,  casting  his  eyes  about,  began  to  betray  signs 
of  uneasiness.    His  sprightly  manners  and  engaging  conver- 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    33 

sation  had  greatly  contributed  to  the  pleasure  of  the  occa- 
sion, but  with  watchful  considerateness  he  soon  conceived 
the  idea  that  the  committee's  presence  acted  as  a  restraint 
upon  the  younger  company,  and  he  therefore  proposed  to 
the  fellow  members  of  the  committee  that  they  should  all 
quietly  withdraw  and  leave  the  young  people  to  their  un- 
guarded enjoyment.  To  this  his  companions,  with  some 
assumption  of  dignity  and  claim  of  the  solemn  duty  devolv- 
ing upon  them,  objected,  as  a  tacit  invitation  to  levity  and 
the  setting  of  a  bad  example.  After  a  brief  delay  Friend 
Ferris  renewed  his  proposal  for  withdrawal  which  was  again 
declined  by  his  companions.  Our  friend  still  persisting,  the 
committee  held  a  brief  consultation  between  themselves, 
when  Benjamin,  suddenly  turning  to  the  assemblage,  ex- 
claimed in  his  happiest  manner,  "well  young  friends  we'll 
make  this  bargain  with  you,  and  then  we'll  feel  safe  in 
trusting  you  alone: — "do  you  so  behave  that  we  can  report 
well  of  you  and  we  will  do  likewnse  that  you  can  report  the 
same  of  us," — whereupon  the  committee  departed  amid  such 
a  merry  burst  of  applause  as  left  its  jolly  impetus  for  the 
growing  joy  of  the  evening. 

The  other  incident  referred  to  I  have  hesitated  to  men- 
tion, because,  being  of  a  purely  personal  character,  it  implies 
at  least  latent  vanity  on  the  writer's  part ;  but  it  .so  well 
exhibits  the  practical  sagacity  and  kindly  tact  which  marked 
the  character  of  Benjamin  Ferris,  that  I  think  it  should  not 
be  withheld.  When  quite  a  young  man  I  was  waited  on  by 
a  committee  of  Friends,  of  which  Mr.  Ferris  was  a  member, 
in  order  to  deal  or  consult  with  me  regarding  my  member- 
ship in  the  Society  of  Friends.  There  were  two  specific 
charges   about  which   I  was  to  be  examined,  namely,  my 


34  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

non-attendance  at  meetings,  and  the  practice  of  music.  At 
that  time  I  was  a  radical  and  aggressive  young  reformer,  an 
experience  which  Hke  that  of  most  persons  impelled  by  zeal 
bordering  upon  fanaticism,  tends  to  the  self-imposition  of 
the  world's  sins  upon  one's  own  shoulders;  and  so  with  the 
presumptuous  spirit  of  youth  and  scarcely  awaiting  the  com- 
mittee's opening  of  the  matter  I  eagerly  began  the  discus- 
sion, being  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  assail  the  Friends  for 
what  I  thought  their  many  short  comings,  and  especially 
their  lack  of  zeal  in  rebuking  human  slavery  and  other 
prevalent  crimes.  I  admitted  my  non-attendance  at  meet- 
ings which  I  justified  on  the  plea  that  I  attended  as  often  as 
the  spirit  moved  me  to  do  so,  contending  that  I  thus  followed 
truer  Quakerly  leading  than  did  those  who  went  merely 
from  force  of  habit  or  pursuant  to  formal  regulation. 

With  reference  to  music  I  not  only  declined  expressing 
regret  or  excusing  myself  for  the  love  and  cultivation  of  it, 
but  zealously  advocated  its  pursuit,  and,  in  turn,  charged 
Friends  with  having  mistaken  its  nature  and  influence  and 
with  gross  and  culpable  prohibition  and  neglect  of  not 
merely  an  innocent  amusement  but  one  of  the  most  benefi- 
cent agencies  for  the  good  of  mankind.  The  matter  having 
been  presented  on  both  sides  of  the  points  at  issue  the  dis- 
cussion grew  warm  and  earnest.  But  in  the  animadversions 
touching  my  absence  from  meetings  Friend  Ferris  seemed 
reluctant  to  participate,  while  in  those  relating  to  music  he 
was  wholly  silent.  This,  as  to  the  latter  point,  I  have  always 
believed  was  because  in  his  secret  heart  he  really  loved 
music,  and  with  happy  prescience  anticipated  its  inevitable 
spread  and  the  widening  and  wholesome  prevalence  to  which 


Benjamin  Ferris, 

FROM    A    SILHOUETTE    IN    THE    POSSESSION 
OF    THE    FAMILY. 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.   35 

it  was  destined  in  a  progressive  civilzation.  Deprecating 
the  centures  persisted  in  by  his  fellow  committee-men, 
Benjamin  at  length,  while  playfully  patting  my  shoulder, 
brought  the  conference  to  an  abrupt  close  by  declaring  that 
"it  is  just  such  conscientious  and  intelligent  young  people 
who  can  thus  give  reasons  for  the  faith  in  them,  that  we  wish 
to  retain  in  our  Society;  we  cannot  afford  to  do  without 
them;  and  I  trust  we  may  all  yet  see  it  right  for  thee  to 
remain  with  us" — and  later  he  candidly  added  the  confession 
that  if  Friends  lost  touch  with  the  progressive  age  by  the 
desertion  of  their  young  members,  there  was  indeed  danger 
that  the  Society  might  retain  the  shell  without  the  substance 
of  Quakerism  and  lapse  into  a  lifeless  and  purely  formal 
body  sadly  at  variance  with  its  inspiring  origin  and  its 
glorious  career. 

Time  has  amply  vindicated  the  prophetic  wisdom  of  Mr. 
Ferris  alike  as  to  his  views  of  growing  religious  toleration 
and  those  regarding  the  destined  growth  and  refining  prov- 
ince of  music;  and  the  efforts  since  made  by  Friends  to  cor- 
rect early  mistakes  and  avert  their  worst  consequences,  are 
seen  alike  in  the  establishment  of  ' '  First-day  schools, ' ' 
literary,  social  and  other  organizations  for  interesting  their 
young  members,  and  particularly  in  their  later  quiet  recog- 
nition or  at  least  permitted  cultivation,  of  music  as  one  of 
the  refining  and  salutary  agencies  of  advancing  age. 

Such  are  some  of  my  recollections  of  Benjamin  Ferris. 
As  before  stated  he  was  a  man  of  scholarly  tastes  and  grace- 
ful attainments.  Being  a  philosopher  and  thinker  rather 
than  an  active  man  of  affairs,  he  never  sought  popularity; 
but  while  averse  to  prominent  action  in  public  and  especially 


36  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

in  political  matters,  he  was  a  man  of  genuine  public  spirit  and 
his  liberal  and  enlightened  views  inured  to  the  public  benefit. 
I  am  proud  and  glad  to  have  known  him  and  feel  the  better 
for  the  knowledge,  while  in  common  with  those  who  were 
honored  with  his  personal  friendship.  I  esteem  it  a  privilege 
to  have  lived  in  the  same  communitj'  where  i"esided  so  genial 
a  friend,  so  true  a  gentleman  and  so  wise  and  good  a  man. 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.    37 

SUPPLEMENTARY  NOTES 

OF  THE 

'^BENJAMIN  FERRIS  EVENING." 

CONTRIBUTED  BY  PENNOCK  PUSEY. 

The  meeting  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Delaware,  on 
Monday  night,  in  commemoration  of  the  character  and  ser- 
vices of  the  late  Benjamin  Ferris,  the  historian,  was  in  so 
many  ways  a  profitable  and  delightful  occasion  that  the 
absence  of  a  stenographic  report  of  the  bright  sayings  im- 
provised thereat  is  much  to  be  regretted. 

Beside  the  written  papers  read,  brief  observations  were 
offered  by  several  of  the  audience,  including  Edward  Betts, 
Henry  F.  Pickels  and  Elwood  Garrett,  while  longer  remarks 
were  made  by  William  Ferris,  son  of  the  historian,  and  by 
Ezra  Fell  and  William  M.  Canby.  The  two  last-named 
gentlemen  bore  truthful  and  touching  testimonies  to  the  moral 
worth,  kindly  attributes  and  great  services  of  the  deceased. 
Mr.  Canby,  in  particular,  in  a  graceful  address,  paid  a  most 
feeling  and  felicitous  tribute  to  the  virtues  of  Benjamin 
Ferris  as  a  scholar.  Christian  and  citizen,  whose  beneficent 
influence  will  long  continue  to  be  felt  in  Wilmington. 

But  perhaps  the  audience,  if  not  the  best  entertained, 
were  most  amused  with  the  anecdotes  told  by  William  Ferris 
about  his  father,  among  which  was  one  touching  upon  the 
well  known  and  very  intimate  friendship  once  existing  be- 
tween the  Hon.  John  M.  Clayton  and  Benjamin  Ferris,  the 
latter  having  been  a  long  and  ardent  admirer  of  the  Delaware 
statesman. 


38  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

It  seems  that  a  benevolent  and  wealthy  gentleman  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  had  once  lived  in  Wilmington,  where  he 
had  observed  the  great  number  and  needs  of  the  colored 
people,  left  by  will  a  considerable  part  of  a  large  fortune  to 
establish  some  kind  of  an  institution  for  their  benefit,  of 
which  bequest  Benjamin  Ferris  was  left  in  charge  as  execu- 
tor or  trustee.  Upon  the  death  of  the  philanthropist  his 
heirs,  craving  the  whole  estate,  sought  to  break  the  will ; 
but  from  its  perfect  regularitj^  they  could  find  no  possible 
grounds  for  it,  and  employed  John  M.  Clayton,  as  the  ablest 
lawyer  in  the  state,  to  aid  them  in  their  difficult  and  nefari- 
ous purpose.  After  a  long  and  vain  search  for  any  real 
basis  for  the  unjust  end  sought,  Mr.  Clayton,  by  some 
means,  found  a  couple  of  old  letters  which  seemed  to  imply 
that  there  had  been  some  kind  of  correspondence  between 
Benjamin  Ferris  and  William  Lloyd  Garrison,  the  noted 
Boston  abolitionist.  The  letters  had  no  possible  connection 
with  the  matter  at  issue,  nor  bearing  upon  it. 

But  it  was  the  counsel's  last  opportunity  and,  plying 
the  arts  of  an  unscrupulous  lawyer,  he  took  advantage  of  a 
strong  pro-slavery  sentiment  then  prevalent  and  drew  a  har- 
rowing picture  of  a  secret  conspiracy  forming  between  South- 
ern slaves  and  Northern  abolitionists  for  a  bloody  negro  insur- 
rection, in  aid  of  which  a  secret  department  of  the  proposed 
establishment  to  be  built  by  the  bequest,  as  he  declared,  was 
to  be  devoted  to  drilling  our  colored  people  and  teaching 
them  how  to  manufacture  and  use  fire  arms;  and  that  we 
would  all  be  in  momentary  danger  of  butchery  if  the  will 
should  stand  and  the  institution  be  established. 

The  effect  of  the  graphic  and  lurid  consequences  pre- 
dicted by  an  eloquent  tongue  to  an  ignorant  and  prejudiced 


LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS.   39 

jury,  in  the  old  slaverj'  days,  may  readilj'  be  imagined, 
especially  by  our  older  citizens.  The  will  was  broken  and 
the  charitable  purpose  of  the  bequest  defeated. 

Benjamin  Ferris  felt  unspeakably  aggrieved  and  out- 
raged, and  he  reproached  Mr.  Clayton  with  much  feeling  for 
his  inexcusable  falsehoods  and  base  behavior.  The  lawyer 
sought  to  appease  his  old  friend  by  declaring  that  he  had 
not  impugned  his  motives,  nor  made  any  personal  charges 
against  him.  Mr.  Ferris  replied  that  the  personal  effect  upon 
him  was  of  little  consequence,  but  that  he  had  frustrated 
a  noble  and  generous  charity,  causing  a  great  loss  as  well  to 
the  whole  community  as  to  the  people  of  the  unfortunate 
race  who  were  its  special  beneficiaries.  "And  this,  too,  not 
by  legitimate  and  sanctioned  legal  practice,"  added  Mr. 
Ferris,  "which  are  bad  enough,  'but  by  what  thou  well 
knowest  to  be  wicked  and  atrocious  falsehoods.  We  have 
been  good  friends,  but  I  can  have  no  further  intercouse  with 
one  capable  of  such  baseness. ' '  And  so  their  long  friend- 
ship was  severed. 

It  is  due  to  both  of  these  distinguished  men  to  add  what 
the  speaker  omitted  from  his  remarks,  the  other  evening — 
i.  e,  that  John  M.  Clayton  afterward  sorrowfully  declared 
that  he  would  rather  have  forfeited  double  the  $3,000  fee  he 
received  in  this  case  than  lose  the  good-will  of  such  a  man 
as  Benjamin  Ferris. 

And  now,  as  further  pertinent  to  the  character  of  the 
man,  it  seems  fitting  to  close  this  supplementary  account  of 
the  meeting  by  appending  extracts  from  letters  there  read, 
written  by  two  estimable  women  of  our  city,  the  first  a  rela- 
tive of  Mr.  Ferris  and  the  other  a  venerable  acquaintance, 
whose  steady  hand  and  well-expressed  thoughts  are  remark- 
able in  a  woman  ninety-three  years  of  age. 


40  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  BENJAMIN  FERRIS. 

Speaking  of  her  uncle,  the  late  Benjamin  Ferris,  the 
woman  first  referred  to  writes,  as  follows  : 

"  His  courtesy  and  kindness,  combined  with  a  sweet 
graciousness  which  never  left  him,  made  him  to  me  the  em- 
bodiment of  an  old-time  gentleman.  I  am  sure  that  must 
be  the  general  impression  of  those  who  were  privileged  to 
know  him.  I  can  only  regret  not  being  able  to  oblige  thee 
by  any  contribution  better  worth  the  giving.  My  best  wishes 
for  an  evening  which  cannot  fail  in  interest  because  of  a  man 
whom  his  friends  delight  to  honor.  Cordially  his  friend 
and  thine,  S.  S.  SMITH." 

The  second  letter  is  as  follows  : — 

"  Dear  Friend.  I  would  be  glad,  if  I  could,  to  comply 
with  thy  request  to  contribute  some  reminiscences  of  Benja- 
min Ferris  to  the  meeting  of  the  Historical  Society  on  the 
19th  instant,  but  I  was  not  familiarly  acquainted  with  him, 
and  can  recall,  I  believe,  no  incident  connected  with  his  life, 
though  of  course  so  prominent  a  figure  in  Wilmington  as  he 
was  for  so  many  years  could  not  be  entireh'  unknown  to  me. 

"Personally,  he  always  impressed  me  as  one  born  into 
an  atmosphere  of  great  refinement  and  culture,  his  gentle- 
manly bearing  and  fine  courtesy  of  manners  never  leaving 
him  under  any  circumstances,  and  continuing  markedly  into 
his  old  age;  and  that  he  was  also  intellectually  cultured, 
was  evidenced  by  his  well-known  researches  into  history, 
and  by  other  contributions  to  the  press  of  the  day. 
Truly  thy  friend, 

M.  C.  WORRELL." 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  9482 


